Ultimately, Under Siege isn't much because, basically, with Seagal as the star there's no real human center. But Davis, playing to Seagal's strengths, has woven a carefully crafted confection around the star, who has enough moves to hold it all together.
What are people saying?
What are critics saying?
Chicago Tribune by Gene Siskel
For its first hour is as exciting an action picture as the Die Hard films. The tension and humor level tail off a bit toward the conclusion, but Steven Seagal and Chicago director Andy Davis clearly declare themselves as top-flight talent.
This no-brainer is fine if all you're after a bit of escapism, but don't look for anything deeper than that.
Under Siege is dumb formula stuff, sensory jolts by the numbers. [09 Oct 1992, p.89]
Entertainment Weekly by Owen Gleiberman
In the brutally efficient Under Siege, Seagal, with his soft-spoken nihilist charm, attempts to move beyond limb-snapping exploitation and into epically scaled mainstream thrillers. He succeeds — but only because this sort of slick action bash doesn’t require a star with much personality. At this point, personality might only get in the way.
Chicago Sun-Times by Roger Ebert
The formula is obvious: Die Hard Goes to Sea. I walked into the screening in a cynical frame of mind, but then a funny thing happened. The movie started working for me.
The New York Times by Vincent Canby
As wild as the premise is, Under Siege is almost guiltily enjoyable.